Chris,

When it comes to lead generation, the one thing I do not like to do is purchase them. I don't mind asking for referrals. But, how do you get the ball really rolling? I think it is important to focus on the needs of the other party rather than the promotion of what you do. This belies the whole point of networking. It's not about "getting." It's about "giving."

Think about the process of growing a garden. The goal is to harvest fruits and vegetables. But, that is not how the process begins. You have to prepare the ground. You have to plant the seeds. You have to water and fertilize (in other words "feed") the ground. The idea here is that in time you will reap a great harvest in comparison to what you actually sowed to produce it. But, you still have to spend time "sowing" to the ground.

One of the cost-effective things I have found for the purpose of sowing, is alligning yourself with a group of people whose purpose reinforces what your business does. I have a small marketing company. I became the mixer coordinator for a business association. Whenever I promote a monthly business mixer, I am at the same time promoting myself. For example, a dairy is a member of this business association. I will soon have their drivers posting flyers about our mixers and a free offer at all their route stops. That free offer relates to my specific business. What's unique about this flyer is that the only contact information on the flyer is my email address. This is not by accident, but by design. Where and when is the mixer taking place? How do you get the free offer? In both cases, an email must be sent to me. That is how this "permission marketing" system begins. In addition to using a flyer to initiate feedback, I also distribute "pass-along" cards. Same idea only you are encouraged to pass the card along to someone else once you have the information you need.

A friend of mine is the group's webmaster and newsletter editor. He operates a computer business. Whenever he updates the business association's website or puts out a newsletter for the group, he is always promoting his business. It is a win-win situation.

If you would like to see what my mixer and pass-along card looks like, I invite you to check out Power Networking. Be sure to take a close look at the photo section. If you have any questons, please do not hesitate to ask it here or via a private message.

Lamar Morgan
CDMM
Power Networking

Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 (new win)